▎能2, néng, (Vaux), Permission (2)

 

Function 能 can also refer to permission, e.g.,

1 明天，我能不能請假一天？

Míngtiān, wǒ néng bù néng qǐngjià yī tiān?

Can I take the day off tomorrow?

2 我能借一下筆嗎？

Wǒ néng jiè yíxià bǐ ma?

Can I borrow a pen?

3 他也能一起來嗎？

Tā yě néng yìqǐ lái ma?

Can he also come along?

 

Structures The same as for 能1.

 

Usage 能 permission overlaps with 可以 permission to such a great extent that 能 is often replaced by 可以, especially in negation, e.g., the negative answer to 1 or 3 above is often 不可以, especially in Taiwan. As a whole, 能 is used in greater frequency on mainland China than Taiwan where 可以 prevails.